Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif Calls UANI An Economic Terrorist

(New York, N.Y.) – United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) Chairman Senator Joseph I. Lieberman and CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace released a joint statement today following Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s declaration that the Islamic Republic of Iran considers UANI an “economic terrorist.” In remarks to reporters on Monday after the successful launch of the Swiss Humanitarian Trade Arrangement, Zarif said: “One of the organizations active in the area of reinforcing U.S. economic terrorism against Iran is United Against Nuclear Iran, whose whole name from beginning to end is a pack of lies.”

“It is clear that the maximum pressure campaign is working.  Foreign Minister Zarif’s latest statements against UANI come from a regime that employs lies and propaganda to destabilize the region and suppress dissent at home.  His statements are a clear effort to distract the Iranian people from the regime's excesses and corruption. 

“When the Foreign Minister of the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism calls others terrorists, it should be taken seriously because Iran uses terror to coerce and intimidate.  When applied to others, it is a threat.  Truths and facts do not guide Foreign Minister Zarif or the Iranian regime.  However, truth and facts guide UANI, and we will not be cowed by Iranian threats. Such threats inspire us to redouble our efforts to hold Tehran accountable for its actions and to stop businesses from around the world from dealing with the Iranian regime and its terrorist agents. For over a decade, we have worked tirelessly to stop Iran’s quest for a nuclear weapon, support of terrorism, and human rights abuses.  We will continue to push maximum pressure until the regime changes its behavior or the regime is changed.”

UANI has outlined 17 areas where additional action can be taken to strengthen the maximum pressure campaign against Iran – one of which was acted upon when the Trump administration in January sanctioned an international network that was illegally facilitating exports for Iran’s petrochemical industry.  Other recommendations include: making greater use of authorities for addressing human rights abuses and corruption in Iran; rescinding the JCPOA’s civil nuclear cooperation waivers; and expanding and tightening sanctions targeting Iran’s primary proxy, Hezbollah.

To read Next Steps in the Maximum Pressure Campaign, please click here.

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